PEAK THERAPY: Did We Hurt Your Feelings, Rep. Salazar?

Mar 25, 2015

We laughed when Rep. Joe Salazar (D-Rape Whistle), while discussing an online harassment bill, specifically cited the Peak calling him “Jackass Joe” because just twice in five years have we called him that. In fact, we only have mentioned Salazar in approximately 39 posts. The relative lack of attention paid to Salazar is remarkable given that we write an average of 20 to 25 posts per week and given Salazar’s propensity to step in sh!t, particularly during the 2013 gun grab.

Our advice? Get a thicker skin, sir.

If Rep. Salazar doesn’t want public scrutiny of policy decisions, might we suggest a new career? Perhaps data entry would offer Rep. Salazar the lack of scrutiny that he so desires. But, we understand how he must feel, because he recently called us ‘trolls.’

So, we did a little research, and found some ways to deal with pain that put us back to our usual, cheerful selves. Maybe these suggestions will even help Rep. Salazar through this difficult time. So without delay, the Peak “Trolls” present our five top ways to deal with hurt feelings.

Stop playing the victim game: In the wise words of Dr. Phil, “We all want reassurance, but an insatiable appetite for it never gives [the other person] any rest. Free yourself from the internalized sense of inadequacy, and find other ways to feel your self-worth and value.” We are pretty comfortable in our own virtual skin, and we hope Rep. Salazar can be, too.

Define the real problem: Instead of feeling angry, try to understand the root of your feelings. Chances are, it’s not the people or situations you are lashing out at that are the real source of the problem. For Rep. Salazar, it may require diving deep into painful memories of the past, like the time he said women should stick to rape whistles and safe zones on campus instead of being allowed to carry a weapon.

Focus on things that bring you joy in the moment: Remember to reconnect with yourself, and enjoy the little things in life. Maybe Rep. Salazar could take some quiet time out on that hypothetical ranch that he’s always dreamed about. That could be really fun – we could plan a road trip, Rep. Salazar.

Don’t let pain define you: If the Peak can soldier on through election cycle after election cycle, and bravely say what no one else will say come rain or shine, you can overcome adversity, too. Focus on what you can do to help the situation. Rep. Salazar’s nickname doesn’t make him who he is as a legislator; it’s his actions that earned the nickname. So perhaps he could change his actions?

Do something constructive: We’ll refer back to dear Dr. Phil when he says, “Maybe you need to forgive yourself for the way you’ve behaved while angry…. It’s important that you take that specific action, as uncomfortable as it may be, and move on. Claim your right to resolve the source of your anger and reclaim your life.” Perhaps Rep. Salazar just needs to forgive himself for not knowing the motto of the country he serves. We all need to do something constructive with our time to start the healing process, like relax with a movie. The Peak recommends the 12-hour history marathon, America: The Story of Us. Especially if you happen to be a State Representative.